Artificial tooth.



nLrnsfTeoLDB-nne, or Blaine-Ercan CONNECTICUT.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH.

marinas..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.. 27, iwf?.

Application filed August 24, 1917. Serial No. 188,041.

To all whom t may concern Be itfknown that I, ELIAS T. GOLDBERG, a

`citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, Fairfield county, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Teeth; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in artificial teeth, and it has for a principal object to provide a metal backing and a replaceable porcelain facing which are securely fastened together by a novel interlocking connection.

The invention further resides in the features of construction hereinafter specified and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure l is a fragmentary front elevation of a set of teeth in process of construction;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. l; l

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the tooth facing, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a molar construction.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the numeral'lV designates a reinforcement of gold or other metal which is applied to the metal backings 2 that are assembled edge to edge, when a set of teeth are being constructed, each backing having a vstud or key 3 extending from the front face of the backing near the lower part thereof. The stud 3 is headed, having undercut side flanges 4 for insertion through the entrance gate 5 of an undercut groove or slot 6 in the back of the tooth facing 7, so that said head will engage beneath the overhanging and opposing wall fianges 8 that are formed by undercutting the sides or walls of the` slot.

The lower or biting edge of the tooth facing 7 is extended and a transverse notch or groove 9 is formed in the rear of the facing to receive the lower edge of the metal backing 2.

The interlocking between the backing and facing is effected by an upward movement of the `facing relative to the backing, and the latter when sea-ted in the notch 9 in the porcelain facing reinforces the latter and also keeps it from turning or twisting, so that the alinement of the porcelain teeth will be insured.

In constructing a set of teeth, the metal backings are assembled edge to edge and the gold or other reinforcement l is then applied to the rear faces of the backings. The slots or grooves G are then filled with a cementitious binder a and the entrance gates 5 positioned over the headed studs or keys 3. The facings 7 are slid or moved upwardly over the faces of the metal backings, thereby causing the lower edges of the bacl ings to seat in the notches or grooves 9. The cement is also efiiciently applied on the contiguous. or abutting faces of the backings and facings.

The biting edge may be ground to present a smooth finish. The tooth is greatly reinforced by the metal backing and should the porcelain facing become discolored or broken it can readily be replaced by a new facing.

In Fig. 5 a molar tooth is depicted having a molar-shaped facing 10 in the extension of which is formed a deep notch or groove 1l to receive the edge of the metal back 2.

The porcelain facing is afforded a strong reinforcement and is easily removed and replaced in a simple operation. `The construction is exceedingly simple and practical since the interlock between the facing and plate or backing may economically be formed. It is also obvious that the teeth may be made either singly or in sets and that the facing may be formed of other' material than porcelain, the latter term being used broadly to include gold or other facings.

What is claimed is:

An artificial tooth, comprising a porcelain facing having a gate therein and an undercut groove leading downwardly from said gate, the rear of said facing having a notch, and a metal backing having a stud formed with undercut sides for insertion through said gate whereby said backing and facing In testimony whereof I a-Hix my signamay be nterlocked by assembling said sftud ture in presence of two witnesses. Y within said gate and then oreno the acng upwardly' and thereby driving-` Jche stud Y g ELIAS GOLDBDRG' 5 luto said groove, the lower end of said vVVtnessest backing when thus nterlocked being seated F. W. SMITH,

withnsaid notch.y y EMMv ROBINSON Copiesvof this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the VCommissioner of lPatentl, Y

Washington, D. C. Y 

